It doesn’t matter if you’re a dedicated gamer or if you just play occasionally: if you want to keep enjoying this pastime, you need to find out what works for you.
Keeping a healthy balance between our hobbies and our health is essential, and with gaming, it’s no different.
Millions of people game all over the world. Research showed that in 2023 there were roughly 3.38 billion gamers in the world.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to keep a healthy balance between life and gaming and how to enhance your experience without compromising your wellbeing.
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Set a limit of time for gaming
When you spend more than four hours a day gaming, you might be starting to leave behind other duties to yourself, like eating well and exercising.
Set a time limit so you can manage your needs more effectively and avoid excessive gaming sessions. Consider these tips to help you get started:
- Use alarms: If you have trouble managing your time, use alarms that remind you to stop, stretch, and do something else. It can be something small, like starting dinner or even putting a load of laundry on. The important part is to step away from the screen.
- Create a schedule: You have to dedicate a certain amount of time to gaming on the day. Keep it flexible, but don’t go over the limit too often or the habit will not stick.
- Prioritize the right things: Make sure that this habit doesn’t interfere with other important things, like work or school. Prioritize the right responsibilities.
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Take breaks regularly
If you regularly take breaks, you can prevent eye strain, reduce the risk of injuries from repeated movements, and keep your mind fresh.
This, of course, applies to all the time you spend in front of a screen or even just a book or a painting.
Move your eyes, blink, and stretch those muscles. This is how you can incorporate these breaks:
- Take breaks: The rule of 20-20-20 is simple: every 20 minutes, look at something that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- Stretching time: Every hour, take a few minutes to stand and stretch. Walk around too, so you can restore circulation and clear your mind for a moment.
- Food and drinks: Don’t forget to drink water and eat a snack to keep your energy levels stable.
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Create a Comfortable Gaming Environment
Over the years, it has become more and more important to be comfortable while gaming so that you don’t create an injury or compromise your spine. Remember, the gaming market currently has a value of $282 billion.
There is something for everyone in it, including gaming equipment and furniture, like a good gaming chair.
Here’s what to consider when setting up your space:
- Make it comfy: The position of the monitor is essential to prevent neck strain. Keep it at eye level and away from your face. Don’t lean forward to see better.
- Adjust accessories: The same thing applies to the keyboard and mouse placements. You have to keep them at a comfortable height to avoid injuring your wrists.
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Maintain Social Connections
There is a component of sociability when gaming, especially for those who game online, but the priority should be with the people you know in real life. These relationships need to be nurtured as well.
To balance virtual and real-life interactions, this is what you can do:
- Find friends: You can join a gaming community that reunites from time to time, but have discussions online too, in forums or groups that you can participate in.
- Go outside: Make time for non-gaming events, especially outside, and never sacrifice important dates or occasions for gaming.
- Stay safe: Keep yourself safe online so that your friends can be brought into your daily life without risk. Find out what is a VPN for gaming, and invest in a good one to stay safe while you play with others.
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Enjoy Gaming in Moderation
Everything in excess is bad, including enjoyable pastimes like gaming. If you won’t be relaxed and happy while doing it, why do it at all? It shouldn’t be a source of stress or health issues. This is how you can keep the right balance:
- Do other things: Explore other hobbies, both online and offline.
- Choose positive games: Focus on games that bring you joy and don’t leave you feeling more stressed by the time you’ve finished your session.
- Stay healthy: Stay up to date with health advice for gamers, and try to apply this advice in your routine.
To sum up
Gaming is a great hobby, that many people enjoy daily. But, by setting the right limits, it can be even better.
Don’t let this wonderful pastime become a source of stress. Keep up with the physical activities, diversify your hobbies, and create a comfortable environment to play in. Moderation is key.
